Tool for designing stair stringers

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a base having a horizontal member and a vertical member substantially perpendicular to each other and wherein the horizontal member and the vertical member are substantially rectangular in shape, a first stop on a distal end of the horizontal member and a second stop on a distal end of the vertical member and wherein the horizontal member has a second end on the opposite side of the vertical member from the first stop and wherein a bottom edge of the second end is substantially aligned with a bottom edge of the horizontal member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a tool for designing stair stringers.

BACKGROUND

Stair stringers are used to provide structure and support for stairs. One problem with current tools and methods for creating stair stringers is that they are not easily adjustable for stairs with steps of varying tread depth and riser height. Moreover, it takes a certain level of skill and a significant amount of time for a builder to conceptualize and lay out the lines to be cut to form the stair stringers. This is especially true for deck builders who must be able to adapt stair stringers to fit the design of the deck in terms of stair location with respect to the deck and height of the deck off the ground.

A solution is needed to provide an efficient way for builders to design stair stringers.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus including a base having a horizontal member and a vertical member substantially perpendicular to each other and wherein the horizontal member and the vertical member are substantially rectangular in shape, a first stop on a distal end of the horizontal member, a second stop on a distal end of the vertical member, and wherein the horizontal member has a second end on the opposite side of the vertical member from the first stop and wherein a bottom edge of the second end is substantially aligned with a bottom edge of the horizontal member. The apparatus may further include a first extendable arm connected to the horizontal member and wherein edges of the first extendable arm are substantially aligned with edges of the horizontal member and wherein the first stop is connected to the distal end of the first extendable arm. The first extendable arm and the horizontal member may be configured to be secured in a fixed position relative to each other by a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism may include a screw which passes through a slot in the first extendable member and is secured by the horizontal member by tightening the screw.

In an aspect, the apparatus may further include a second extendable arm connected to the vertical member and wherein edges of the second extendable arm are substantially aligned with edges of the vertical member and wherein the second stop is connected to the distal end of the second extendable arm. The second extendable arm and the vertical member may be configured to be secured in a fixed position relative to each other by a securing mechanism.

In an aspect, the apparatus may have a notch on a top edge adjacent to a point of intersection with the vertical member sized in accordance with a width of a riser board the vertical member may have notch on an edge adjacent to a point of intersection with the horizontal member sized in accordance with a width of a decking board.

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is an apparatus including a base having a horizontal member and a vertical member substantially perpendicular to each other and wherein the horizontal member and the vertical member are substantially rectangular in shape, a first extendable arm connected to the horizontal member wherein edges of the first extendable arm are substantially aligned with edges of the horizontal member, a first stop connected to a distal end of the first extendable arm, a second extendable arm connected to the vertical member wherein edges of the second extendable arm are substantially aligned with edges of the vertical member, and a second stop connected to a distal end of the second extendable arm. The horizontal member may have a second end on the opposite side of the vertical member from the first stop and wherein a bottom edge of the second end is substantially aligned with a bottom edge of the horizontal member. The horizontal member may have a notch on a top edge adjacent to a point of intersection with the vertical member sized in accordance with a width of a riser board and the vertical member may have a notch on an edge adjacent to a point of intersection with the horizontal member sized in accordance with a width of a decking board.

The present disclosure is also directed to a method for using a tool for designing a stair stringer board wherein the tool has an intersecting horizontal member and vertical member and wherein the horizontal member has a first stop on a distal end of the horizontal member and the vertical member has a second stop on a distal end of the vertical member, the method including sizing the horizontal member such that a distance from the intersection to the first stop is substantially equivalent to a desired depth of a tread board, sizing the vertical member such that a distance from the intersection to the second stop is substantially equivalent to a desired height of a riser board, positioning the tool on the stair stringer board such that the first stop and the second stop are adjacent to an edge of the stair stringer board, tracing a first line along a first edge of the vertical member, tracing a second line along a first edge of the horizontal member, and tracing a third line along a width of the horizontal member at the distal end of the horizontal member. The method may also include moving the tool along the edge of the stair stringer board to align the first edge of the vertical member with the third line and repeating the tracing steps until a desired number of stairs have been drawn. The method may further include tracing a bottom line on a bottom edge of the horizontal member wherein the bottom edge of the horizontal member extends to the opposite side of the intersection.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description of Illustrative Embodiments. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to embodiments that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of preferred embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the subject matter is not limited to the specific elements and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like components or steps:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a tool for laying out stair stringers as described in the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a tool for laying out stair stringers.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a tool for laying out stair stringers.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for laying out stair stringers using a tool in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a tool for laying out stair stringers.

FIG. 6 is side view along the length of the tread depth portion of the exemplary tool shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the tread depth portion of the exemplary tool shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a side view along the width of the tread depth portion of the exemplary tool shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a planar view of the riser portion of the exemplary tool shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the body portion of the exemplary tool shown in FIG. 5 with emphasis showing the detail of notches in the body portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

As described herein, FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a tool for laying out stair stringers (hereinafter “tool” or “apparatus”) 100. As set forth in more detail below, the tool 100 may include a base 102, an extendable arm 104, an extendable arm 106, and one or more securing mechanisms 108. It will be appreciated that tool 100 may include any sub-combination of the foregoing elements while remaining consistent with the present disclosure.

Base 102 may comprise an elongated horizontal member 110 a, an elongated vertical member 110 b, and tracks 112 a and 112 b. The base 102 may also be referred to herein as the body portion and unless otherwise stated, the two are used interchangeably and are intended to have the same meaning. Base 102 may be made of any sturdy material, such as hard plastic, metal, wood, and the like. In an embodiment, base 102 may also include struts 204 on a bottom side 202 of base 102 that provide structural support for base 102 as shown in FIG. 2. The horizontal member 110 a may generally be used to lay out the tread support and attachment point on a stair stringer and the vertical member 110 b may generally be used as a guide to lay out the riser attachment and a support line for a stair stringer.

Horizontal member 110 a and vertical member 110 b may be generally rectangular-shaped and may intersect each other such that base 102 generally forms a “cross” shape wherein horizontal member 110 a and vertical members 110 b are substantially perpendicular to each other. Horizontal member 110 a may include a track 112 a and vertical member 110 b may include may include track 112 b as shown in FIG. 3.

Extendable arm 104 may be generally rectangular-shaped with a width substantially similar to horizontal member 110 a. Extendable arm 104 may also be referred to as the tread depth portion and unless otherwise stated, the two are used interchangeably and are intended to have the same meaning. Extendable arm 104 may be disposed on horizontal member 110 a such that extendable arm 104 engages with track 112 a. Extendable arm 104 may include slot 114 a and latching member 116 a wherein the slot 114 a is aligned substantially parallel with track 112 a. Such a configuration may allow extendable arm 104 to be moved along track 112 a and extendable arm 104 may functionally serve as an adjustable extension to horizontal member 110 a. In that manner, the horizontal member 110 a becomes adjustable such that the tool 100 may be used to lay out stair stringers with a variable tread width.

A shorter end 101 of horizontal member 110 a may extend from the opposite end of extendable arm 104 and configured such that the top edge of the shorter end 101 aligns with the top edge of horizontal member 110 a and the bottom edge of the shorter end 101 aligns with the bottom edge of the horizontal member 110 a. The shorter end 101 may then be used to trace a line as a guide for the bottom of the stair stringer disposed closest to the ground to form a substantially flat surface to support the stair stringer.

Securing mechanism 108 may pass through slot 114 a and secure to base 102, securing extendable arm 104 at a fixed point along horizontal member 110 a. Securing mechanism 108 may be adjustable. For example, securing mechanism 108 may be tightened so that it clamps extendable arm 104 to elongated member 110 a, wherein extendable arm 104 cannot move relative to elongated member 110 a. Securing mechanism 108 may also be loosened, allowing extendable arm 104 to be moved along track 112 a. The movement of extendable arm 104 may be restricted by the length of slot 114 a.

There are numerous types of securing mechanisms 108 contemplated within the scope of the current disclosure. As an example, securing mechanism 108 may be a screw or a bolt that can screw into base 102. Securing mechanism 108 may be tightened or loosened by rotating the screw or bolt. In another example, securing mechanism 108 may be a clamp that can be engaged or disengaged to secure extendable arm 104 in place or allow it to move. It can be appreciated that that there are numerous other types of securing mechanisms that can be used within the scope of the current disclosure.

In a similar manner, extendable arm 106 may be generally rectangular-shaped with a width substantially similar to vertical member 110 b. Extendable arm 106 may also be referred to herein as the riser portion and the two terms are used interchangeably and are intended to have the same meaning. Extendable arm 106 may be disposed on vertical member 110 b such that extendable arm 106 engages with track 112 b. Extendable arm 106 may include slot 114 b and latching member 116 b. Slot 114 b may be aligned substantially parallel to track 112 b. Such a configuration may allow extendable arm 106 to be moved along track 112 b and extendable arm 106 may functionally serve as an adjustable extension to vertical member 110 b. In that manner, the vertical member 110 b becomes adjustable such that the tool 100 may be used to lay out stair stringers with a variable riser height. It will be understood that track 112 a and track 112 b assist in aligning the horizontal member 110 a and extendable arm 104 and the vertical member 110 b and the extendable arm 106 such that the layout provides a straight line. However, such tracks are not necessary and the alignment made be made by sight and confirmed by a straight edge.

Securing mechanism 108 may pass through slot 114 b and secure to base 102, securing extendable arm 106 at a fixed point along vertical member 110 b. Securing mechanism 108 may be adjustable. For example, securing mechanism 108 may be tightened so that it clamps extendable arm 106 to vertical member 110 b, wherein extendable arm 106 cannot move relative to vertical member 110 b. Securing mechanism 108 may also be loosened, allowing extendable arm 106 to be moved along track 112 b. The movement of extendable arm 106 may be restricted by the length of slot 114 b. While FIGS. 1-3 show two such slots 114 b along the vertical member, one adjustable slot 114 b may also be used.

At the corner 118 a of extendable arm 104 may be a stop 116 a and at the corner 118 b of extendable arm 106 may be stop 118 b. The stops 118 a and 118 b are configured to extend below the plane of base 102 such that stops 118 a and 118 b may butt up against a board to be cut into a stair stringer. The stops 118 a and 118 b may be formed integral to the extendable arms 104 and 106, respectively. As such, the tool 100 may be more stable when laying out the cuts to be made in a stair stringer. The stops 118 a and 118 b may also configured such that when a first line is drawn along the length of horizontal member 110 a, a second line may also be drawn along the width at the distal end of the horizontal member 110 a. The second line may be used in aligning the tool 100 in laying out multiple stairs on a stair stringer in that the line will form the guide for the next cut of riser.

There may be notches cut in the vertical member 106 and the horizontal member 104 that are sized in accordance with certain dimensions of wood used in building stairs. For example, there may be two notches on the horizontal member which may be sized in accordance with the size of a ¾ inch riser board or a 1 inch riser board, while the notches on the vertical member may be sized for 1 inch decking and 2 inch decking boards.

The extendable arm 106 connected to the vertical member 110 b may be configured such that the maximum extendable length of the riser board is 7¾ inches such that the riser is not too high for comfortable use.

While FIGS. 1-3 show an adjustable tool 100 able to accommodate stair stringers having variable tread depths and riser heights, alternative embodiments of the stair stringer tool may include fixed lengths for either the horizontal member (tread depth) or vertical member (riser height) or both.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method of utilizing apparatus 100. At 402, extendable arm 104 may be set at a position along track 114 a such that the total length of the horizontal member 110 a and extendable arm 104 is equal to the desired depth of the stair tread. At 404, extendable arm 104 may be set at a position along track 114 b such that the total length of the vertical member 110 b and extendable arm 106 is equal to the desired height of the stair riser.

At 406, the stops 118 a and 118 b may be disposed along an edge of the board that will form the stair stringer. At 408, lines that trace the tread depth and riser height may be drawn. The lines may be drawn with a carpenter pencil or may be scored with a knife or any other mechanism to mark the stair stringer for cutting. At 410, the tool may be realigned such that stop 118 a is aligned with the line that was drawn that represents the height of the riser to form the next step on the stringer. At 412, the next set of lines is drawn. Finally at step 414, steps 410 and 412 are repeated until the entire stringer has been configured. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the lines drawn will be generally triangular in shape vis-à-vis the stringer board such that when cut and the stringer is attached to a deck at the appropriate angle, the treads will be substantially parallel to the deck and the risers will be substantially perpendicular to the deck.

Apparatus 100 could be adjusted for different step sizes and configurations by simply deactivating securing mechanisms 108, positioning extendable arms 104 and 106 to different positions, and activing securing mechanisms 108 again. In an embodiment, extendable arm 104 and extendable arm 106 may be set to predetermined positions.

With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown an exploded view of an exemplary apparatus 500 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 500 includes a tread depth portion 510, a riser portion 530 and a body portion 550. Two threaded screws 502 with reciprocal threaded anchors 504 may be used to connect the riser portion 530 to the body portion 550 through two slots 532 534 in the riser portion 530. Similarly, a third threaded screw 502 may be used in conjunction with a third reciprocal threaded anchor 504 may be used to secure the tread depth portion 510 to the body portion 550 through slot 512. Threaded anchors 504 may be connected with the body portion 550 using external threads, glue, or may be integrally formed with the body portion 550.

Additional detail of the tread depth portion 510 is shown in FIG. 6. The slot 512 in the tread depth portion 510 may be positioned on the generally rectangular portion 514 such that the slot 512 is parallel with the long ends of the rectangular portion 514. There is shown a stop 516 at one corner of the rectangular portion 514, which as shown in FIG. 7, extends beyond the top plane and side plane of the rectangular portion 514. FIG. 8 shows another view of the stop 516 in relation to the tread depth portion 510.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 9, there is shown a planar view of the riser portion 530 having two slots 532 534. Also shown is a stop 536. In operation, the stop 536 and the stop 516 are configured to abut to the edge of a stair stringer to hold the apparatus 500 in position while laying out the stair stringer. Marking the stop 516 also provide the starting point for laying out the next stair cutout by aligning stop 536 with the prior location of stop 516. It will be understood that the roles of stop 516 and stop 536 may be reversed to move the next stair cutout in the opposite direction. Finally and with reference to FIG. 10, there is shown a bottom view of the body portion 550. Notches 552 are shown at two different interval measurements representative of the thickness of the boards, in this example ¾ inch and 1 inch which may, for example represent the width of the riser boards. Also shown are notches 556 indicative of the thickness of boards, in this example 1 inch and 1½ inches, which may for example, represent the width of the tread boards.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with the various embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function of creating measurements for the tread depth and riser height in stair stringers. Although not every conceivable combination of components and methodologies for the purposes of describing the present disclosure have been set out above, the examples provided will be sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to recognize the many combinations and permutations possible in respect of the present disclosure. Accordingly, this disclosure is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1.-2. (canceled)
 3. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first extendable arm and the horizontal member are securable in a fixed position relative to each other by a securing mechanism.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a screw which passes through a slot defined through the first extendable member and is secured to the horizontal member by tightening the screw.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second extendable arm and the vertical member are securable in a fixed position relative to each other by a securing mechanism. 7.-8. (canceled)
 9. A stair stringer design apparatus, comprising: a base having a horizontal member and a vertical member substantially perpendicular to each other, the base having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the horizontal member and the vertical member are substantially rectangular in shape, and the bottom sides of the horizontal member and the vertical member lie in a base plane; a first extendable arm having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side of the first extendable arm being slidably connected to the top side of the horizontal member wherein edges of the first extendable arm are substantially aligned with edges of the horizontal member; a first stop integrally formed with a distal end of the first extendable arm, the first stop extending from the bottom side of the first extendable arm and through the base plane; a second extendable arm having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side of the first extendable arm being slidably connected to the top side of the vertical member wherein edges of the second extendable arm are substantially aligned with edges of the vertical member; and a second stop integrally formed with a distal end of the second extendable arm, the second stop extending from the bottom side of the second extendable arm and through the base plane.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the horizontal member has a notch on a top edge adjacent to a point of intersection with the vertical member sized in accordance with a width of a riser board.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the vertical member has a notch on an edge adjacent to a point of intersection with the horizontal member sized in accordance with a width of a decking board.
 13. A method for using a tool for designing a stair stringer board wherein the tool has an intersecting horizontal member and vertical member and wherein the horizontal member has a first stop on a distal end of the horizontal member and the vertical member has a second stop on a distal end of the vertical member, comprising: a. Sizing the horizontal member such that a distance from the intersection to the first stop is substantially equivalent to a desired depth of a tread board; b. Sizing the vertical member such that a distance from the intersection to the second stop is substantially equivalent to a desired height of a riser board; c. Positioning the tool on the stair stringer board such that the first stop and the second stop are adjacent to an edge of the stair stringer board; d. Tracing a first line along a first edge of the vertical member; e. Tracing a second line along a first edge of the horizontal member; and f. Tracing a third line along a width of the horizontal member at the distal end of the horizontal member.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: Moving the tool along the edge of the stair stringer board to align the first edge of the vertical member with the third line; Repeating steps d, e, and f until a desired number of stairs have been drawn.
 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising tracing a bottom line on a bottom edge of the horizontal member wherein the bottom edge of the horizontal member extends to the opposite side of the intersection.
 16. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the securing mechanism comprises a screw which passes through a slot defined through the second extendable member and is secured to the vertical member by tightening the screw.
 17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein longitudinal axes of the horizontal member and the vertical member intersect and define four quadrants, the edges of the first extendable arm comprise a first edge and the edges of the second extendable arm comprise a second edge, the first stop extends from the first edge of the first extendable arm into a first quadrant, and the second stop extends from the second edge of the second extendable arm into the first quadrant. 